Libre — Restaurant in Portland

Libre has a lot of potential. The space is really cool, there was a gorgeous floral arrangement when I was there that reached up to meet a beautiful chandelier at the center of the room. For some reason there were a bunch of customers standing at the table in the center of the room which made it hard to navigate the already small space. I question the idea of letting people get drinks there. The staff were nice but our service didn't feel personal which was probably due to how busy they were that night. Know before you come here that they are blasting music; that is not for me but that is totally just a matter of personal preference. I love the idea of a dessert focused restaurant! The menu is very creative which I appreciate but unfortunately the ideas don't execute themselves very well. We ordered the Kyoto Lemonade ($16) , the Oishii ($17), and the Watashi Wa Star ($12). The Kyoto Lemonade has a wonderful lemon sorbet and strawberry whipped cream and I enjoyed the additional texture that came from the honey smacks. The green tea panna cotta however did not mesh well with the other flavors and the vast amount of it on the plate was disproportional to the other components. I wish there was more lemon sorbet as it comes with just a few spoonfuls of it on top. The highlight of the meal was the blackberry sorbet that came with the Oishii. It was so bright and fresh. The dark and milk chocolate moose were a bit sweet and heavy for my taste (I prefer a lighter moose texture). The addition of raw instant ramen on the top is creative, and I appreciate the idea, but it did not work. The ramen gets slightly moist from the moose and sorbet making for a texture that is like very very undercooked pasta rather than something crispy or crunchy. After the dessert the flavor lingering in my mouth was that of raw ramen. The Watashi Wa Star tasted medicine-y to me and I did not drink it. I am willing to pay high for a meal that I feel is worth it and this unfortunately did not feel worth it. This would be a great place for a small birthday group but I would personally pass on it for a romantic date as the music is very loud. I think Libre needs to go back to the drawing board with a few of the desserts on its menu but I admire the...

Stopped by Libre for the first time tonight during a double date with my sister-in law, her boyfriend and my husband, and I am still in awe from the whole experience. As soon as we walked in, aside from being greeted by a welcoming face, the music what the best! The playlist for tonight was on point. The atmosphere is warm, inviting & intimate. The service is superb with staff ready to answer questions and give recommendations. The menu is very creative with beautiful drink & dessert/food names. Once the drinks & desserts arrived… I fell in LOVE! The prices are somewhat steep, but well worth it specially when I know I’m supporting such talented individuals. You can see, feel & taste the love these business owners plus staff put into Libre. I tried a Cristalina with Mezcal, husband tried the Mi Corazón, sister-in-law got something with Gin and her boyfriend tried a Casa Antigua. They were all super good, but my favorite was Mi Corazón. The desserts are simply amazing! I wanted to try Vale La Pena, but they were out. So we tried Amor de Mi Vida, Pinche Lauro, Güera & No Me acomodes. Definitely recommend this...

Libre is an inviting, relaxed space, with friendly staff and service. Having a dessert and drinks focus, I was pleasantly surprised that their appetizer menu easily substituted for dinner, so don’t be afraid to come on an empty stomach — they’ve got you covered.

My favorite cocktail was the amazing Sangre de Dioses. The bright brush of chocolate on the rim primes your tastebuds for a smooth tropical mixture that makes this as much dessert as a drink. It took an effort to try a different one for my second round, but the Mi Corazón was also excellent, balancing the sweetness of passionfruit with lime and a tamarind kick.

The yucca fries and ceviche were our favorite apps, though we missed the sold-out croquettes. Next time, then.

Finally for dessert we had the Amor de Mi Vida, combining crunchy with creamy with sticky, which according to my daughter lives up to its name. We also tried the Vale la Pena (my fave), with its savory twist on crème brûlée, and elegant presentation.

Thank you, Gabby, for providing such a delightful (and filling!) evening...